When an afternoon ride turns ugly

The video shows the man rushing back when he is told he is being filmed. Photo / Supplied

A Christchurch trail-rider whose helmet-camera captured a fellow cyclist's lycra-rage has posted video footage online to help police find him.

The YouTube footage shows a middle-aged man cycling on the Flying Nun trail in the Port Hills. Posted on Sunday evening after an afternoon ride, the clip shows the rider hopping off his bike on the trail to confront Jordan Brizzell, 24, who posted the clip.

Wearing a yellow top, banded with red, black and white, the middle-aged man turns around and appears to push Mr Brizzell.

"I don't need a f*****g lecture while I'm enjoying a ride. If you want to pass, f*****g pass. If you don't shut your f*****g mouth or I'll shut [indecipherable] ... ," he said.

The incident escalates when Mr Brizzell tells him his actions amount to assault. He drops his bike and tussles with the cyclist, who can be seen standing over him. The cyclist walks away but then rushes back when he's told "every second" has been taped. The pair go to ground again, the lens is covered and all that can be heard is the younger man yelling and telling the older man to "f*** off".

Mr Brizzell said he bit the man's finger in an effort to get him away. He said the man seemed unaware of trail etiquette - where slower riders pull over for faster ones. He has complained to police.

The rage was out of proportion to what had actually happened, Mr Brizzell said.

"It was overly aggressive, and out of control, even if I had been swearing at him and telling him to get out of the way, which I hadn't been. All it would have taken was: 'You're a dick, you need to get off people's cases.' I didn't ask in a text book fashion but I don't think I was out of line with what I said."

He wants to find the man so police can deal with the matter. As well as the clip, he managed to take a clear picture on his cellphone which he has also shared online.

Mr Brizzell said he had a short message for the man. "My message is that he should chill out, he doesn't need to get violent. People need to keep their emotions under control, everyone has to deal with arseholes everyday, you just need to get over it."

Inspector Todd Hilleard said police wanted to speak to the man.

It is the latest case where the social media savvy are turning to online methods to get justice.

Two Rotorua women have pleaded not guilty to aggravated assault and theft charges after they were filmed at a Countdown supermarket in January swinging punches and handbags at staff. The clip went viral and police praised the number of people who forwarded it. They said it meant people were taking an active interest in the safety of their community.

Meanwhile, Auckland man Craig Platt, 48, faces an assault charge after a clip of him shoulder-barging a teenage skateboarder at Victoria Park was uploaded last month.